| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Richard Horpe by lupotterdraws © | ||||
|
| ||||
| Aliases | ||||
| Title | Ser | |||
| Allegiances | ||||
| Culture | Stormlander | |||
| Born | Stormlands[3] | |||
| Books |
| |||
Richard Horpe is a knight of House Horpe, in service to Stannis Baratheon.[4]
Appearance and Character
Ser Richard is lean,[1][2] dark-haired,[5][2] and hard-eyed.[2] His ravaged face[1][6] is marred by pockmarks and old scars;[2] according to a semi-canon source this is because of the pox.[3]
Richard enjoys battle and killing.[1] He is one of the queen's men and is high in the councils of Stannis Baratheon,[7] who considers the knight to be ambitious.[1]
Richard's quilted doublet and faded surcoat display the three death's-head moths of House Horpe.[1][2] He armors himself in plate and mail.[5]
History
Richard wanted to join the Kingsguard when he was a squire, but King Robert I Baratheon chose another knight after Queen Cersei Lannister objected to him.[1]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
When the Battle of the Blackwater turns against Stannis Baratheon, Richard and Ser Justin Massey convince Stannis to retreat back to Dragonstone.[2]
A Storm of Swords
During the battle beneath the Wall, the wildling Dormund is killed by a knight with moths on his shield,[8] possibly Richard.
A Feast for Crows
One of the queen's men, Richard is part of Stannis's court at Castle Black.[4]
A Dance with Dragons
Still among Stannis's knights and sworn swords,[9] Richard sits high in his councils.[7] Richard and Ser Justin Massey are sent south from Castle Black, their departure noted by Dywen. Jon Snow, the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, deduces the so-called wrong-way rangers are acting as envoys for Stannis.[7]
Stannis believes that Justin and Rich both aspire to be named Lord of Winterfell for their service, but the king plans to give the title to Arnolf Karstark.[1] During Stannis's war council, Richard advocates for attacking the Dreadfort.[1] Jon dissuades Stannis, however, and the king instead marches to court the northern mountain clans.[10]
Stannis is victorious in the fight by Deepwood Motte,[10] and Richard serves as his second-in-command during the march on Winterfell.[6] Richard incorrectly believes the snowstorm which slows them down will break soon. He later concludes that the weakest in Stannis's host are beyond saving. The army stops at a crofters' village in the wolfswood, so Richard tasks his men with fishing in two nearby lakes.[6]
When Melisandre prophesies a girl coming to the Wall, Jon Snow guesses she is Arya Stark and fears that Stannis would want to marry her to Richard, Justin, or Ser Godry Farring.[11] The girl turns out to be Alys Karstark, however, and Jon arranges her marriage to Sigorn of the Thenns.[12]
Richard is present when four Peasebury men are burned at the village for cannibalism. With Stannis's men slowed by the blizzard, Richard insists they must press on to attack Winterfell. He questions Justin's courage and dedication to R'hllor.[5]
The Winds of Winter
| Warning This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change. |
Richard is present, along with Ser Godry Farring and Clayton Suggs, when Stannis interrogates Maester Tybald about his loyalties. Richard is then put in charge of disarming Arnolf Karstark's sleeping men, while Stannis breaks his fast with Arnolf, his son Arthor, and grandsons. Richard later reports that most of the Karstarks yielded, although a few were killed after resisting.[2]
Richard and other queen's men want Stannis to sacrifice Theon Greyjoy to the Lord of Light, although Stannis is skeptical of Richard's sincerity.[2]
Quotes by Richard
Risk is part of war. Every battle is a gamble, Snow. The man who does nothing also takes a risk.[1]
—Richard to Jon Snow
Richard: Only the Lord of Light can save us now. Wouldn't you agree?
Justin: My faith runs as deep as your own, Richard, you know that.
Richard: It is your courage I question, Justin, not your faith. You have preached defeat every step of the way since we rode forth from Deepwood Motte. It makes me wonder whose side you are on.[5]—Richard and Justin Massey
Quotes about Richard
Horpe will take Val to wife if I command it, but it is battle he lusts for. As a squire he dreamed of a white cloak, but Cersei Lannister spoke against him and Robert passed him over. Perhaps rightly. Ser Richard is too fond of killing.[1]
Dormund was cut down in the battle for the Wall, and him still half a boy. One o' your king's knights did for him, some bastard all in grey steel with moths upon his shield. I saw the cut, but my boy was dead before I reached him.[13]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 17, Jon IV.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 The Winds of Winter, Theon I
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Richard Horpe.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 62, The Sacrifice.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 42, The King's Prize.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 7, Jon II.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 53, Jon XI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 26, The Wayward Bride.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 44, Jon IX.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 49, Jon X.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 51, Theon I.